Man in seventies tied up during Co Tyrone burglary

A man in his seventies was tied up during a break-in at his Co Tyrone home

Paul Ainsworth

15 October, 2018 01:00

A BURGLARY at the home of a Co Tyrone pensioner in his seventies who was tied up by a gang of masked men has been described as "sickening".

Six men wearing balaclavas used a crowbar to force their way into the pensioner's home on Camlough Road in Pomeroy at around 7.30pm on Friday.

A PSNI spokesman said the elderly man was restrained and forced to lie on the floor while the men ransacked his home for around half an hour. It is understood they stole several items before running off.

The spokesman described the pensioner's ordeal as a "shocking incident".

He said the man later managed to go to a neighbour's house and raise the alarm.

"Although he sustained only minor physical injuries, the man was left shaken," the spokesman said.

Police appealed to anyone with information to contact them.

Ulster Unionist councillor Trevor Wilson said he was stunned by the break-in.

"This was a particularly sickening incident as this man was elderly and vulnerable," he said.

"It's absolutely shocking that this horrific ordeal should occur, and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

Meanwhile, police have appealed for information after a man was attacked in his Co Down home by a group of men armed with hammers.

Four men in balaclavas and boiler suits forced their way into the house on Lismore Avenue in Bangor in the early hours of Saturday.

The victim, aged in his forties, suffered a serious head injury and a broken ankle.

He remained in a stable condition in hospital last night.

A police spokesman said officers are trying to establish a motive for the assault.